Door-bolt-actuated circuit-closer.



G. A. SPRING.

DOOR BOLT AOTUATED CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 6. 1910.

1,044,099. Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-$111331 1.

G. A. SPRING. noon BOLT AGTUATED CIRCUIT GLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1910.

1,044,099, Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

2 SHEET SSHEET 2.

GEORGE A. SPRING, OF CO'LUIVIBUS, OHIO.

DQOR-BOLT-ACTUATED CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Application filed April 6, 1910. Serial No. 553,784.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SPRING, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-- Bolt Actuated Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circuit closing means, and more particularly to a device adapted to be actuated by the rivet of a door bolt and is intended especially for utse in theaters and other public buildings to be attached to the doors of emergency exits.

Another object is to provide such a device in circuit with the electric-sign over such exit, whereby the light will be lighted when the bolt is thrown into unlocked position, indicating that exit may be had through the door to which it is attached.

A further object is to provide a novel construction of switch and contact means operable by the bolt for closing of a circuit only when the bolt is fully in retracted position.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a device which will be inexpensive in construction and of a maximum efficiency.

Another important object is to provide such a device which may be readily attached to a door frame or door with a minimum amount of labor.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a door and frame equipped with the present device, in closed position, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a modified form of the device in which it is applied to double doors.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a door frame 10 upon which there is pivoted a door 11 of any suitable construction, the frame being provided with the usual stop plate 12 having the bolt receiving opening 13 therethrough, as shown. The door is provided with a sliding bolt 14 operable in any suitable manner and carried in a suitable Carried upon a suitable insulating plate 16 at the inner end of the guideway 15, there are two pivotally supported contact members 17 having hinged connections with a suitable binding post base member 18, and engaged by suitable springs 19 tending to hold them yieldably in extended position for engagement by the bolt when shot inward from engagement with the stop plate of the door frame, as will be readily appreciated. The outer portions of the members 17 project into the path of the bolt 14 to facilitate this action. The base members 18 are provided with longitudinally extended openings 20 projecting into which from one side of the base members, there is a suitable binding screw 21, and the switch members as thus described are] connected in series with a suitable electrip illuminating sign 22 disposed over the doorway and an electrical source 23 through the wires 24, engaged respectively in the passages 20 and held by the screws 21. One of the wires leads directly to the electrical source 23 while the other leads to the sign 22 from which proper connection is made with the electrical source.

The bolt is recessed at its inner end, as shown at 25, a suitable block of insulating material 26 being secured therein. The

block 26 is provided on its inner side with a suitable recess 27 from which extends a passage opening on the outer face of the block and directed outwardly through the recess and opening there is a headed screw 28 threaded in a suitable contact plate 29 and holding the contact plate snugly against the base of the insulating block 26. Upon movement of the bolts 14 to disengaged position, it will be seen that the contact plate 29 will be moved across the extremities of the contact members 17 closing the circuit through the electrical source and the sign 22, and indicating through the illumination of the sign that the door is unlocked and available for exit. It will be observed that the member 17 is rounded at its inner end to allow ready passage of the bolt thereover when moving into disengaged position. I

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modification of the device in which a double swinging door is involved. The two doors 11 are shown in closed position, with the bolt in looking engagement therebetween. The bolt itself is carried in a suitable keeper formed on the adjacent edge of the door; the plate and contact members carried thereby are disposed in a suitable recess formed by making a mortise on the side of the door transversely of the passage for the bolt,-'a suit able closure plate being provided to close the opening over the recess. It should be observed that when the bolt is in fully retracted position the contact members 17 are set to such an angle with respect to the plane of the bolt as to remove liability of these members binding against the bolt to prevent its forward. movement.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely simple device is provided, the mechanism of which may be constructed at a very low cost and may be installed without difficulty. When the switch device and bolt are carried upon a movable door, any suitable form of connections may be made for carrying the circuit from the door to the adjacent supporting frame, of which there are many suitable methods ordinarily in use.

\Vhat is claimed is:

The combination with a door having a recess formed therein, of a bolt slidably secured to the door and adapted to pass across and period action in Letters Patent No. 1,044,099.

[SEAL] Cori specification requiring correction as follows: Page the recess, a block of insulating material secured in the bottom of the recess, a pair of posts embedded in the said block and pro jecting forward therefrom, electric conductors secured to the said posts, fingers pivoted to the upper ends of the posts and having rounded ends projecting from the recess into the path of movement of the bolt. recess into the path of movement of the bolt, springs secured to the posts and hearing against the fingers for normally holding the said fingers in alinement with the posts, a recess formed in the inner end of the bolt, an insulating block mounted therein. a con tact plate carried by said block and thus in sulated from the bolt for engaging the rounded ends of both fingers successively to close the circuit thereof when the bolt is slid across the recess formed in the door.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. SPRING. \Vitnesses:

JOHN M. MARSHALL, T. H. MARSHALI...

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,0-L4,099, granted November 12,

1912, upon the application of George A. Spring, of Columbus, Ohio, for an improvement in Door-BoltArtuated Circuit-Closers. an error a ears in the )rinted 2, line 33, strike out the words recess in the path of movement of the bolt.; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Otlice.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of December, A. 1)., 1912.

o. c. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

